One of the most important markets for an app reseller is local businesses. While the web at large is full of well-established competition, the chances are that in your own backyard, you have a real chance to dominate the market. For that reason, focusing on local businesses in your own home city can be an effective way to generate a significant portion of your business.
Below are a few strategies that will help you make connections, build relationships, and become known in your local market. Some require the investment of time, money, or energy (naturally), but when it comes to your business, regular investments such as these can lead to huge rewards in the long term.
Strategy #1: Join organizations
Local business organizations (such as the Rotary Club, Kiwanis, or Lions Club) provide a time-tested way to connect with other business owners in your area. Through event attendance and participation in organization activities, you can make new relationships, network, and get the word out about your reseller business. This can be through one-on-one conversations, but there may also be chances to sponsor events or other promotional opportunities.
Strategy #2: Joint ventures
As you form connections with local businesses, try to identify those that might make suitable joint venture partners. The simplest joint venture might be to co-package your offerings. For example, if you meet a local marketing consultant, your mobile app and website services would be a natural fit with the other things they already offer to their customers. The co-packaging can be informal, or you can even suggest that your websites or marketing materials provide formal references to each other’s services. By partnering with others who serve local businesses, you will be able greatly expand your reach.
Strategy #3: Volunteering and Charity
On top of doing good for the world, you can also do good for your business! You can create your own volunteering opportunities, or simply participate in those offered by others. One of the big advantages with volunteering is that you can be as creative as you like, and make the project as relevant to your business as you want. For example, you could hold an event where local high schoolers design apps for their school, and offer a prize to the best one. Or, you could offer a free app to the business in town that can prove it’s the oldest.
Strategy #4: Advertise
Billboards, local business publications, and more are all effective ways to reach businesses in your area. Obviously, this is the most costly option, but a highly-visible local ad or a direct mailing can be an extremely effective way to get in touch with local businesses. Start small, test the waters, and go from there.
Strategy #5: The Chamber of Commerce
The mission of your local Chamber of Commerce is generally to boost local businesses, so it’s an extremely important resource to you. Be active, attend events, host events, and make sure that you become a known locally.
The more people you meet, the more chances you have to generate awareness of your app reseller business. For that reason, the best strategy is to make like a politician, get out there, and shake every hand you can!
